Leia Guccione from Rocky Mountain Institute provided an engaging keynote address titled “Energy Efficiency in a Transforming Electricity System.” She noted that it’s cost-effective today to replace aging thermal power plants with integrated portfolios of renewable energy, energy efficiency, demand response and storage resources. In her view, utility DSM programs should both increase in scale and expand in scope as we modernize the electric grid.

The 2017 Workshop featured panel discussions with representatives from nine electric and gas utilities that operate in the region. In addition, national experts discussed special topics such as recent developments in the federal ENERGY STAR program and the U.S. DOE Building Technologies Office, scaling up Zero Net Energy buildings, home energy assessments using smart meter data, use of weather data to enhance energy savings and peak demand reduction, energy savings potential from networked lighting controls, grid edge voltage control, and energy efficiency opportunities in cannabis production.

At the 2017 Workshop, SWEEP presented a Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award to Tim Hogan, executive director of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (ACLPI). Mr. Hogan provided legal representation for SWEEP before the Arizona Corporation Commission and in other forums for the past 15 years. Earlier, SWEEP presented Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards to two Nevada legislators, State Senator Pat Spearman and Nevada Assemblyman William McCurdy II, who this year successfully championed new efficiency laws for their state.

ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS UTILITY UPDATES

Each investor-owned utility in the region was asked to compile data illustrating program budgets, energy savings and peak demand reduction for all 2017 energy efficiency programs and estimated data for 2018 programs. These tables were provided as a handout to workshop participants.